Fearless Friday: Katy Lynch

If you want the cut and dry of why the tech community loves Katy Lynch, see answer #10. Actually, that's why I love her, too.

I met Katy a little over a year ago and I was instantly inspired by her genuine support for my agency and her bubbly demeanor. She is an individual that truly supports her peers, for sure female entrepreneurs and the Chicago community in general, but what's more is that she is humble and approachable. Did I mention she is beautiful? Talk about a trifecta. Funny thing is, I don't think she even knows all of the above or that she's inspiring people left and right. Isn't that the most amazing combo in a wicked, smart woman? I think so which is why you should meet my friend...who I've been trying to pin down for a year to do this interview. This girl hustles! Meet Katy!

Tell us a little about Codeverse and the mission. How did you develop the idea further and what led you to pursue it?

Codeverse is the world’s first fully interactive coding school for kids aged 6-12, offering weeklong summer camps and monthly coding memberships. We are opening beautiful, fun, modern spaces where kids built apps and games. The first studio opens in Lincoln Park, at 819 W. Eastman Street, on July 15th!

Within the 3,600 sq ft space, kids use iPads to learn to code and also control and program dozens of high-tech objects within the space, including our 20 ft tv wall, robotic arms, drones, lights, disco balls, 3D printers, and music speakers within the space.

1. What was the moment you knew you wanted to be an entrepreneur let alone in the digital industry?

I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur when I was working at Where I’ve Been, Facebook’s largest travel application back in 2008. During my time there, I single-handedly managed all social media marketing efforts for the company. I quickly recognized that there was high demand, from startups, for social media services.

When WIB sold to Tripadvisor in 2010, I spun off and started my own social media marketing agency called SocialKaty. I ran the business for four years with fellow entrepreneur, Andrew Angelos, until I sold the business in 2014 to Manifest Digital.

2. What was the most difficult moment in launching your brand? How did you get through it?

Just getting started, to be honest.

Launching a business is a huge commitment, and there is a lot of uncertainty. But, that is part of what makes entrepreneurship so great. You learn so many valuable lessons about business as you build your brand. What matters most is that you work harder than you’ve ever worked in your life, and don’t give up!

3. How would you describe a typical day? What's your morning to evening routine?

I wake up every morning around 7am and read what’s happening in the Chicago tech community. My go-to websites are Chicago Tribune, Crain’s, Chicago Inno, Built In Chicago, and Chicago Women’s Magazine.

I spend most of my mornings and early afternoons in meetings with my team, or on calls with strategic partners (schools, non-profits) or our vendors.

I absolutely love attending events, mentoring entrepreneurs, or participating in speaking engagements around the city. I spend most of my evenings doing these things! When I’m not at an event, I am spending time with Craig, attending concerts, and keeping fit. (Soulcycle and Iron & Oar are my go-to workout spots!)

4. What’s one thing you learned about yourself in becoming an entrepreneur?

As an entrepreneur, you’ll receive more “no’s” than any other time in your life. You’ll make endless mistakes, and there will be so many times that you’ll want to give up.

I learned how important it is to pick myself up, time and time again, and keep pushing forward in the direction of reaching my goals.

My mother is my biggest inspiration. Sadly, she passed away in 2011, but not a day goes by that I don’t think of her. She was always positive and delightful to be around. She always encouraged me, and my siblings, to pursue our passions.

Music greatly inspires me, too. My brother, Johnny, is a musician and runs an amazing record label called Lost Map in Scotland. He is so smart, creative, and driven, but he’s also humble and truly one of the funniest people I have ever met.

6. If you weren't in the tech industry...and could be anything else...what would it be?

Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing. Focus on your own goals and your vision.

11. 5 must-have apps that you need in your life to function?

Slack, Spotify, Uber, Headspace, and Postmates.

12. Bonus question - What's next for Codeverse? Do you have something new in the works?

The first Codeverse studio opens in July, but we’re already working on three more in Chicago within the next 18 months. In the next 5 years, there will be a Codeverse studio in every major metropolitan area in the US. Our mission statement is to teach a billion kids to code, which we realize could take 30 years, so SaaS and online learning is a huge part of that mission!

In the blogging community, FOMO is a real thing. This topic is especially poignant given that it's NYFW. And for what it's worth, I've attended several times and I am totally okay with not being there this year. It's not all glitz and glam...it's a lot of schlepping, sweating, missed cabs, foot pain and hunger. Would I go again? For sure. Am I okay with missing a few? Most definitely! But, I digress...

Anastasia Lupu is indeed the triple threat but the most striking feature about her is how incredibly kind and down-to-earth she is. Once you get over her supermodel looks, you realize just how whip smart she is and the likability factor goes wayyyy up.

She's a momma, a badass babe, a beauty and a business woman. Her floral company speaks to me and it's incredibly unique and custom which are two of my favorite things. The tagline: Boxed Flowers For The Well-Heeled. Where my stiletto-wearin' babes at? This one's for you!

Brittany is a trailblazer when it comes to online fashion. Don't take it from me though. She just received her 800th 5-star review on Poshmark, That's right ladies, she has built a business on selling yours and my clothing and accessories on one of the largest fashion marketplaces in existence and boy, she has a system! I've mentioned her on my Instagram before but she has literally changed my life overnight as I've been purging and cleansing my closet all summer. Interested? Read on!

All for one and one for all! In case you didn't know...there is a huge movement to band entrepreneurs together in new and exciting work environments that foster creativity, support and a giant networking pool to feed off of. Finding the right one is the tricky part of it all.

People always ask me where my office is located and my response is usually: EVERYWHERE. My team is never stationary and that's really the fun of what we do. Meetings, shoots, calls, TV segments, seminars...we do it all and all in the name of social media!

I have had my fair share of struggles with confidence. I can't blame it on a singular incident or my upbringing because I had an amazing childhood. It's just who I am. I think a lot of us struggle with being confident whether it's at work, with friends, our body image, parenting or even meeting new people. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it's in our female DNA. Never mind celebrities and postpartum mommas who are back down to their fighting weight in a matter of seconds. It's no wonder!

I've been wanting to write this post for some time. Problem was I had so many photos to edit and sort through because our staycation was that magical. Undoubtedly the best we've every had as a little family and it all began with the Swissotel Chicago.

I met Krista only recently and was immediately struck with how warm she was. Little did I know that she was the force behind Imperfect Grace which has been a social media profile I had been admiring, specifically on Instagram, for the last year. Her elegant, dainty jewelry designs are ideal for the urban momma on the go. Unique and minimalist with a touch of rock star. My kinda profile.

Melanie is the Queen of Lemonade. Her eponymous, mouth-puckering lemonade can be found amongst the shelves of specialty grocers as well as Jewel and soon, Mariano's. From a consumer standpoint, our family cannot.get.enough of this delicious beverage. Comprised of aronia berries and low on sugar, it makes for the perfect beverage for your babes and for the adults...try it with vodka or bubbles!